Play as Bernie Sanders

Senator from Vermont. Run an insurgent primary built on small-dollar momentum and see whether democratic socialism can go the distance against the party establishment.

Play as Bernie — free →

How Bernie plays

Bernie's campaign lives and dies on momentum. Strong debates and early wins build the kind of grassroots energy that fills the war chest and keeps you competitive in states the establishment expects to run away with. The trade-off is a narrower donor base — you're leaning on enthusiasm, not big-money infrastructure, so a cold stretch hurts more.

Scenarios where Bernie appears

• 2016 — the underdog run against Hillary Clinton and the party machine.
• 2020 — a crowded field where an early lead has to be defended.
• 2028 — the progressive lane in a new-generation Democratic field alongside AOC and Gavin Newsom.

What you'll manage

A finite budget across the primary calendar, which states to contest, how to handle the debates, and which advisors to trust when they disagree. Contests are decided on plurality — most votes wins — so targeting the right states matters as much as raising money.

Start Bernie's campaign →